Product Description

The traditional "knight in shining armor" has become a staple figure in popular culture and the images of bloody battlefields, bustling feasting halls and courtly tournaments have been creatively interpreted many times in film and fiction.

But what was the knight truly like? The world of the English Medieval Knight was complex, and ever-changing. From the household of King John to the defenders of Elizabeth I, there was great change in the social standing of knights, their equipment and appearance, and their involvement in politics and warfare.

An expert on Medieval military history Christopher Gravett describes how the knight evolved over four centuries of English and European history, the wars they fought, their lives in peacetime and on campaign, the weapons they fought with, the armor and clothing they wore and the fascinating code and mythology of chivalry. The text is richly illustrated with images ranging from manuscript illustrations to modern artwork reconstructions, and many photographs of historic artifacts and sites.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #206149 in Books
• Published on: 2008-03-18
• Released on: 2008-03-18
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 288 pages

Review
"Lavishly illustrated in color and black and white, this book is a must for all historical fans of the horse-charging, lavishly dressed warrior... Not to be missed by the historian or those with an interest in history just a little outside the norm." -Timothy Baghust, The Traveler (May 2008)

"Christopher Gravett's Knight: Noble Warrior of England 1200-1600 examines the figure and actions of the knight in medieval times, surveying his development, social standing, training and battles in great detail. While any library strong in college-level medieval history needs this, it's also the military history collection that will benefit from its thorough review, accompanied by original color art and modern photography of armor. Very highly recommended indeed." -California Bookwatch (May 2008)

"This is...a compendium, this time of Mr Gravett's four Warrior titles covering English knights from the rule of King John to Tudor times... [It] gives very a authoratative account of armour, weapons and fighting as well as dealing with the lifestyles of knights over the whole period. A host of contemporary illustrations and photographs of surviving items are accompanied by superb colour plates... highly recommended to anyone who has not got the individual titles." -John Prigent, Internet Modeler (April 2008)

About the Author

Chris Gravett is a former Senior Curator at the Royal Armouries, Tower of London, and a recognised authority on the arms, armour and warfare of the medieval world. He has worked as an advisor for numerous TV and film productions, and has written many books for Osprey, including Warrior 1: Norman Knight 950-1204 AD. He currently works as a curator at Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire. The author lives in UK.

Customer Reviews

FOUR CENTURIES OF THE NOBLE WARRIORS


I've been purchasing history/military books for at least 4 decades now, and have to say that within the last couple of those years OSPREY publishing has issued some really grand books. And this latest is at the top of list. The same author who a couple years back gave us THE NORMANS has done it again. Just a grand book.

The book is comprised of 4 earlier softcover Warrior books from Osprey:

#35 English Medieval Knights 1400-1500
#48 English Medieval Knights 1200-1300
#58 English Medieval Knights 1300-1400
#104 Tudor Knight

The four original paperback Osprey books are now available in this brand new hardcover rendition with pictures on nearly every page. And many of those pictures are in glorious color, too. Anything a knight wore, rode, fought with, or used, etc., for four centuries, 1200 through 1600, is touched upon by the author.

The book, as true with the newer hardcover releases from OSPREY, begins with a six-page chronology from 1199 through 1603. Beginning on page 268 is nine-page glossary to help those of us that enjoy these periods but are not in the expert category where knowledge is concerned. And experts aside, this book should readily appeal and entertain the average reader having interest in the knight from the years 1200 through 1600, or shortly after the Norman conquest though the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

One can not do much better than OSPREY books when looking for interesting, general books of history. I have a shelf full of them, welcoming each new arrival. Look one up at your favorite bookstore or here on Amazon and I believe you just might agree.

Semper Fi.